Published: July 20, 2008 12:24 am      

POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: NCCC seeks nominations, looks for sports fans

NIAGARA FALLS — The Niagara County Community College Alumni Association is seeking nominations from the public for the “Distinguished Alumni” award, which recognizes the achievements of former students of the college. The award is presented to outstanding NCCC alumni for their community involvement, professional employment and accomplishments, and dedicated service to NCCC. The award will be presented at the NCCC Foundation Scholarship Gala on Oct. 25.

Sixty-one graduates have been honored with this award since its inception in 1988. Photographs of the previous Distinguished Alumni recipients and their brief personal biography are displayed in the NCCC Alumni Gallery, located near the Henrietta G. Lewis Library and can be viewed by students, faculty, staff and visitors to the college.

The nomination form is available to download at www.niagaracc.suny.edu/

alumni. Applications can also be picked up at the NCCC Administration Building information desk or by calling the NCCC Foundation Office at 614-5910. Applications must be submitted by Aug. 1.

Noted Distinguished Alumni include: Sen. George D. Maziarz, Niagara County Legislator Renae Kimble, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center President/CEO Joe Ruffolo, as well as last year’s recipients Carmen Presti of Monkey Business/Primate Sanctuary, and Tammy Austin-Ketch, clinical assistant professor, nurse practitioner with UB’s School of Nursing.

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Niagara County Community College will hold a sports memorabilia sale to benefit the Mark C. Miller Memorial Scholarship fund July 26 to 28 in conjunction with the college’s “Balloons Over Niagara A Bicentennial Celebration,” the Town of Cambria’s and Niagara County’s bicentennial celebration events on the college’s main campus.

The cash-and-carry event, which will be held in the college’s art gallery, will offer hundreds of sports-related items including autographed jerseys, helmets, sports cards, footballs, hockey sticks, baseballs and books, among other unique collectibles.

Sale hours are from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 27. The NCCC Foundation reserves the right to close the sale based on the number of items remaining for sale.

Miller was the manager of the NCCC campus bookstore for many years and a serious sports enthusiast. Former NCCC President Gerald Miller donated his son’s extensive memorabilia collection following his son’s untimely death. Sponsored by the NCCC Alumni Association, the sale will fund the Mark C. Miller Scholarship fund, which provides scholarships for NCCC students to purchase books.

The art gallery is located in building D, room 148 on the college’s main campus at 3111 Saunders Settlement Road, Sanborn. For more information on the memorabilia sale, contact the NCCC Foundation Office at

614-5910.

Contact reporter Caitlin Murray at 282-2311, ext. 2251.